The Yard

PLEASE IGNORE THE BAD REVIEWS. Have always known chef Nick to be an excellent owner and his new restaurant does not disappoint. The setting is rough and industrial which perfectly juxtaposes the savory and beautifully plated dishes. The atmosphere is eclectic, the drinks are fun and the location makes it the perfect hot spot for locals. portions are smaller but they're supposed to be! Order one of everything for the table and prepare yourselves for one of the best food experiences of your life.

This was by far the worst dining experience I've ever had. First, the menus were hand written on food-stained paper and barely legible. That was the first bad sign. I ordered an $8.50 drink, and I took one sip and was left wondering if there was any alcohol in it at all. The menu was odd and lacked a lot of variety, and as someone who has some basic dietary restrictions, there was very little I could eat. For example, there wasn't a single chicken dish on the menu. I finally settled on fried mozzarella, just to be told they were all out. The only other thing I could eat on the menu was a plate of french fries. They cost $7, so I wrongly assumed they would have toppings or be the best damn french fries I've ever eaten. Boy, was I wrong. The food came out, and it was simply a plate of frozen french fries reheated. It reminded me of a middle school lunch, but Chef Nick has the audacity to charge me as if I am dining at a high end eatery. Even if other places on the square have a long wait, don't give in and don't come here, because you will be disappointed in more ways than one.

Absolutely delicious!! They are a tapas place, but the plates are huge for a tapas place (looks almost like a normal serving). Everything was well crafted and all the flavors went amazing together. Additionally, the drinks were reasonably priced and huge (and tasty!).. good music selection and great ambiance!!

The decor is very rough and does not fit with the food. Would have been much better to be serving burgers and fries than overpriced tapas. Tried 4 different ones with another couple and all were mediocre at best. The shrimp tacos while tasted good, were ridiculously overpriced. 3 bite sized tacos with 1 small shrimp each for $12 is crazy in Dahlonega. Every other restaurant in town serves full meals for that (or less). The flat bread was horrible and despite everyone at the table still being hungry, no one wanted to finish the last 2 pieces. Someone mentioned stopping at McDonalds afterward to actually get some lunch. Worst part was that the cook who operates in an open kitchen did so in a very unsanitary way. He was constantly touching his hair and his phone while preparing food. Never once saw him wash his hands. Having owned a restaurant in another state for many years, I can tell you that is a major health code violation. I would not go back even if I hadn't witnessed the health code issues. You would need to order 3 menu items for an actual meal. That would cost between $30 and $40. For that you can get a gourmet meal elsewhere instead of mediocre appetizers out of the freezer.

They came to compete with the long standing competition in the area. Johnny B’s. JB’s is a staple of the Dahlonega college town and will always be undefeated. This place has more space yes, that is appreciated, however the drinks are sub par, over priced, and smaller portioned. Near the end of the week they have DJ’s play for the college nightlife. I think a high school child with little experience in DJ-ing could do significantly better. This DJ remixes perfectly amazing songs, does not input much variety, and butchers them in the end. I’ve been told the DJ does not play sufficient “bangers” which I can confirm. Anywho the food I have not experienced but the price range and amount served, which is a great amount, at the other local bar could likely taste better, you just have to get passed the visual of it. This establishment came to compete, but I believe will fall short just as other bars have tried in the area. It’s popular and thriving now because it is the “new thing” in the area. I expected more from what I was told but my first visit fell short of everything I expected. In the end I did like the authentic jail cells they have in the basement, neat addition.